I still think yes . If not only for the build quality. 1971-75 cameras that in as I write January 2024 . Buy a new Digital Camera now and see how it works in 50 years. Especially if it’s never been touched to update it however it may need be to function electronically in 50 years. Yes this cameras battery has been discontinued but it can work without one also . …….Just saying, smoke them thoughts in yer pipe
If you want to get likes, buy an M6; if you wanna shoot as fast and as accurate as you can with a Leica; get the M5. Better construction, better ergonomics, reasonable price, better meter
I love my M5. And I say that having owned two M3s, an M4, and my current M2. Yes it's big, but I have large hands. I lovectge spot meter, and the great shutter speed dial. Mine has had the circuitry modified, so I can use 1.5 volt SR44 batteries. Just a perfect camera, in my opinion.
I got a Chrome M5 a month ago; I absolutely adore this camera! It is quite satisfying to use, and it’s so easy to get into a nice shooting rhythm with it. I have personally come to love the size of it - feels very solid and confidence inspiring.
I bought a black Leica M5 by sheer chance in 2009 and fell in love with it... to the point to go and get a silver chrome one from Tamarkin for more than twice as much what I paid for the black one. I have used both of them extensively, and really like the way the controls allow me to work fast (took the black one to Cartagena, Colombia, where I shot B&W film pushed to ISO 1600; I used the silver one in Prague with a Summilux 35mm ASPH... and it was the heaviest combo I've used in my life. Right now, both M5 bodies have different lenses. The black one is paired with an old 'cron 35, while the silver one sports a Zeiss-Ikon 35mm f2.8. Once I got used to the metering, shooting was an incredible pleasure. Thanks for this video. I liked your images and your comments, as I share much of your reactions and feelings about the M5.
@@Rainyfeels, my black M5 body looks a bit worse for wear, while the silver chrome one was as mint as they come... until I put the first dent on it (one spectacular tumble from the back seat of a car to the ground... nothing happened, other than a small ding on a corner). I would say I love using the silver one. It's very classy but it also gets noticed far more than the black. I wouldn't know... I like them both, I guess! :)
I have an M3 and is great. Just received my M5 , absolutely love it! It does feels solid & much confortable on my hands doing a/b test! No doubt! The one side strap like it lot as well. Bright viewfinder! The rewind mechanism and shutter sound is as smooth and muted as the M3. Plus spot metering, quick loading, 35mm guide lines it just makes it an amazing camera. Leica anticipated the future with the M5 which folks in the past didn’t appreciated.
I have an M5. I think it's a superb camera. I couldn't care less if everyone else on Earth doesn't like it. The metering is fantastic. The handling is perfect. The rangefinder accuracy is spot on. Yes, i do love the M3 (i have two of them) but for my best shots of all, I generally take the M5, the 21 Elmarit, the 50mm Summilux, and the 135mm Elmarit. It's a beautiful camera in every respect.
I have a 3-lug M5 and an M2. I've also owned 2 M3s and an M4. I love the M5, especially the spot meter and the shutter speed dial. I bought mine in absolutely mint condition with a recent CLA (that included reconfiguring the electronics to be able to use modern 1.5 volt batteries), for only $1,100. It's a really great value.
I’ve owned one for about 6 months at this point and I love it! I’m glad to see someone making a really good video about them. It’s definitely underrated🤙
This M5 is amazing! Lot of people says "this camera is too big..." but it looks solid, the viewfinder is clear too. You can stay on the viewfinder and change the shutter speed in same time. Very useful in streetphotography for example. This M5 is judge by his design and you cannot put all lenses BUT he's original and he did the job! Look the pictures! 🤩📷 I've got mine 👌
Thanks for the review. As a relatively recent Leica guy (about 15 years) compared to being mostly a Nikon film/digital and Hassy guy (for about 50 years), I really love the Leica optics! Why more haven't caught onto the M5 is beyond me. I used to have an M6TTL but sold it some time back. I replaced it with an MP in the early 2000s. It truly is mechanical perfection, however, it's very slow. The M5 shutter speed ring is brilliant! It is much like the ones on my Leicaflex SL and SL2 cameras. (Sadly they turn in opposite directions). The M6 and the M4 are much slower to operated if you have to fiddle with the shutter speed ring. Keep up the good work.
Great video. The battery on the M5 seems to last forever. Besides the meter, the speed dial is certainly its strength, especially if you need to use an optical viewfinder, which on any other M Leica is a problem. One drawback is the inability of the M5 to handle a 21mm lens since the rear lens element interferes with the metering arm ( maybe someone mentioned this constraint). Again, thanks for the video...good content
Thanks so much for your in depth and earnest review! I'm confident this is the camera for me now. After losing my Contax G2 at LAX airport, I've been on the lookout for a replacement camera. Leica never really crossed my mind because of its price tag, but after some research, I began looking into the other models besides the M6 and here we are. I think that wave you were talking about, about people flocking towards the M5 is definitely happening, but it's still cheaper than other options, surprisingly.
Well done! Really informative video on the M5. I have to admit I never paid much attention to them because of the large size and it’s considered the”ugly” Leica which is subjective. I had two of the frame lines masked on my M6 and had the viewfinder upgraded to an MP level viewfinder and focusing patch. It’s absolutely amazing now. Thanks again.
Great video. It is nice seeing the M5 getting some love. I know I love mine, especially after I had it calibrated to use the newer silver oxide batteries without an adapter. You mentioned my two biggest cons about the camera: 1.) not many people CLA/repair them compared to the other M-bodies and 2.) lenses that can damage the M5 light meter. Unfortunately, I also have the main two lenses that cannot be used with the M5--these being the early versions of the super-angulon 21mm and elmarit 28mm lenses. I've heard Leica could modify the older lenses to fit the M5, but I have never come across any of these modified lenses. With that being said, this is not a deal breaker for me since I can still use them on the other M-bodies while I reserve the M5 for the 35mm, 50mm, and 90mm lenses. =)
Thanks, Jason! I hope the M5 gets its day in the sun. It's an amazing camera. It took forever to deliver this because it was such a long vid. I was soooooooo ready to upload it ! 😂Back to shorter vids next week!
Great video, thanks for this! I just pulled the trigger and bought M5. I like the appeal of the underdog, but the truth is this Leica M5 underdog is an absolutely awesome camera! Spot meter and all. It was underrated, but the prices are going up now. I love my M5!
I think it’s the best film M if them all. That’s a subjective statement, but it puts a check in every box I look for in a camera. I love the size, match-stick needle, AMAZING spot meter, and perfect shutter speed selector. As soon as I bought my M5 my M6 went in the stay where it stays to this day.
It's good you picked up on the quirky meter which is my biggest criticism of this M body. I had one, but I sold it, and now I stick with an M7 and MP. Aside from the meter, it's a very nice camera and as long as you fully understand how the meter works, it's an excellent piece of kit.
That meter is very… Interesting! I love how precise it is, but it ‘s design really scares me. It can only last so long and when something like that fails its got to be expensive and or disruptive.
Thanks for the video, really useful. Especially this thing with metering arm))) I thought something was wrong with my M5 black, but now I realized - that was not an issue😅 that’s just how it works - no need to press the Shooting button unless you’re fully ready and already adjusted shutter speed and aperture.
This is an excellent review. “Back in the day” (when you were still in shot pants LOL) I had an M3 kit with DR Summicron 50, Summicron. 90 and Super Angulon 21/3.4. It was brilliant. I have a Leica CL (with dead, unrepairable meter) with the 40/2 Cron and a good sample of the Minolta Rokkor-M 28/2.8. I have an auxiliary finder for the 28. 28 & 40mm are my basic kit - they fit the way I see perfectly. I’ve been musing about getting an M4-P which for the 28mm frame lines and as a backup/second body. The M5, however, has been on my radar for several weeks now largely because of the meter, the build quality and the decent pricing. It looks to me the 35mm frame lines on the M5 leave room for roughly composing with a 28. 🤔
Some of the nicest shots I've seen on 35mm film. Inspired me to get some Kodak gold 200 again. I see you tend to over expose your other analog photos more than you do here? Both look great, but these IMO are the creme de la creme. Well done!
Thanks for the review. I'm seriously considering an M5 after a long hiatus out of film. Let me know if you'd like to do some street shooting around Phoenix or Tempe!!
I finally got hand on my Leica m4 but.... it need cla and good service :3 Actually Leica m5 looks cool to me :3 I use Fed 5c and Leica IIIa b4 so in my opinion m5 look's cool :3 If light metter will work i could have it :3
My M5 has been in the shop since August. Some issue with the repairer not with the camera. I’m using a M6 since September. It doesn’t even compare. The viewfinder is a joke. I miss my M5 so so much. I miss the absolute reliability. I’ve been shooting on a M5 for the last three years and I’ve never had issues with the meter arm. I had issues with the light seal but that something most repairers can fix.
@@MacShootsFilm The store I sent it to have a third party repair guy who’s got depressions or something and has been behind on the repair work. It’s nobody’s fault really. And I’m fine using an M6 as long as we’re still in semi lockdown.
great camera. You can resolve the battery mercury issue by sending it to a Leica repair shop and they will just replace the system so you can use a modern battery in it. Super simple ;-)
@@MacShootsFilm, you're right. The only way the camera isn't using any juice is when the shutter has been used and the meter arm is down (in the dark recesses of the body! :) ) Like other cameras (the K1000 comes to mind), this one uses battery as soon as you cock the shutter and the meter cell is exposed to light.
A good review! I was offered my dealers M5, at less than his cost! I disliked the size, weight and moving meter info. It can sort of vary. Truth! The shutter dial (Canon A-series) Spotmeter (Pentax initially planed a Spotmeter hence Spotmatic) TG they didn't. I prefer framelines of M3. Seeing the edges of 35mm or 28mm on M6, is a joke! If someting comes in, you have less than a nano second to respond! I LOVE my M3 and M2, I LIKE my M6 TTL. OH Longevity! My M3 is 56 rears in action! At time professionaly, i exposed 100 rolls a month! At about 4,000rolls, the shutter drum gave way! Massive repair bill. Leica cameras are very reliable. Not for everyone! Test before buying! Not everyone's choice id RFDR.
Those who say M5 was not popular and didn’t make too many of them are simply repeating what they see online as many of them never actually lived thru the early 1970s as a real professional photographer As a matter of fact Leitz made fewer M4-2 bodies than M5 Leitz also made fewer M4p bodies than the M5 So in the end if we judge success based solely on production numbers, then both the M4-2 and M4p were even less successful than the M5 Goes to show those online don’t always know what they’re talking about
I really like your content. I always learn something new, about gear, photography or myself. I am impressed by the look of the photos. Do you do any editing or are they ooc? If you edit your photos this could be great content for a future video.
As far as repairs, your options are DAG and Sherry Krauter. Sherry will tell you not to buy one with a serial under 128xxx due to inferior electronics. Mine is with DAG right now, hes doing a full overhaul to address slow shutter speed inconsistencies, light meter repair and battery voltage conversion. It's been 3 months so far and I miss it dearly. Shooting my m6 for now.
Mac, great images. The images seem much more high key and less saturated than the scenes you’re shooting, based on what I can atleast see from the video work. Is this straight out of camera or some post?
Hey, Jason! Most of these are after a little post work. My style is constantly changing. Right now I'm hooked on high key. IT's surely a phase that will pass! 😂 Thanks for watching!
I don’t mind the two lugs on the same side, but it seems it would have made more sense to put them on the shutter release side. Does it ever bother you having the lugs on the opposite side? Thanks for the video!
Hi Mac I have been watching all your video's and really enjoy watching all the film photography you do. I do have a question though. On one of the suggested video from RU-vid a video came up from your old channel and it was titled "I Quit Film Photography" You made some strong convincing points in that video. I am just wondering the reasons why you switched back to film again.
Two of the main reasons I quit for a few months, back in 2018, was due to cost and quality. Cost has mattered less to me over time (better job) and quality of output has increased by either sending film to a lab or improving my scanning process.
@@MacShootsFilm I have been scanning film for 15 years and it was not until last year that I found a workflow where I am happier with my scans vs lab scans.
I think m5 is for big boys. Im owner of m4 becouse i have good bargn but m5 sounds good to me. And in this condition ;3 3 years later. Hope it still work fine ^^ About photo it isnt Leica it is You ;)
You’re disappointed at the beginning because the m5 doesn’t compare to a Nikon f. Why would you go from a more accurate system (Nikon f and f2) and go to a more expensive less accurate machine? You don’t even have a 100% viewfinder. I’d shoot Nikon and the Leicas for a good 1-2 years and print in your darkroom. See which pictures are more accurate as you framed them in camera, and which has better focus on the print
Honestly after buying this I'm so glad I didn't listen to all my friends. They all said that this was a shit leica and not worth it. I truly believe this is the best leica you can buy, and I paid $600. Sure it doesn't look as nice but God it's good
The effective base length for the M5 is 49.32 mm while the effective base length for the CL is a sparse 18.9mm. It is less accurate. The M5 is fully manual as well. Regarding quality of build, the M5 is a "hand fit" camera where each part was worked by a person until it perfectly in the M5 he/she was assembling. The CL was a bunch of parts put into the camera regardless of "fit." So, the M5 has an effective base length double the CL, is just as manual, and is exponentially more well built. It's like comparing a Ford Focus to a Rolls Royce. :)
@@NA-ko2gd well now you're just trolling. They're both great cameras, but holding each of them there is no denying which is better constructed. Also the electronics of the light meters on both are pretty unreliable and prone to failure.
No the LR44 battery is a Air Zinc 1.4 volt in real life as in which placing the MR9 battery holder will knock the voltage to 1.35 volts. Those Wein Air Zinc Battery that is 1.35 volt does not have a good power life span about maybe 8 to 10 rolls, and then your next roll will be showing Underexpose Shots. As some camera needs 2 of the MR9 holder like the Nikon, Canon, Minolta etc, as for the Leica SLR models took 2 Ok, and I do like Leica, but I could not afford the lenses, as also I cannot stand the Ego of Leica shooters wanna be's BS of their models, in which think that they are Magnum shooters, Ah Crap, cannot stand them, and also I have my RF Models in which you might heard about it, Canon, and Contax. Contax not the G or T series, it the 1950's Contax II, and III with ZEISS lenses, and my Canon's as they are NOT the Canon QLIII model as they are the Canon 7 with built in frame lines, and the Canon Vt with the built in Trigger wind yea like the Letiz Leciavit in which it was Built in, as the Leitz Never made the Leciavit for the M5, only for the M2, M4, and M6 models, and lastly that the real reason in WHY? the M5 did not have Spot Metering Ok, and it a short live model as was discontinued that the people were shooting the crap of the camera that the meter wand needed maintenance on but in some stories that I have heard that the Meter wand was showing onto the negative film and Leitz could not afford in replacing or repairing these major problem so they kill it, and They cannot replace the CDS cell with a different Meter Cell due to that it requires a different Voltage output as the meter cell was CDS cell - Cadmium Sulfide cell in which NO ONE MAKES THEM So your stuck with them it was also the same problem when the Leica CL model also had the same problem and that model was not made by Leitz, it was made by Minolta under Leitz Spec's- Oh Well Whipped out those Photo Phone Meter Apps, but for me I use a Real Light Meter... Have you heard of Photographer Dorothea Lange? She said this: "The Camera Is An Instrument That Teaches People How to See The Without A Camera" So to all you Leica M5 owners you better start shooting with FILM, and proved to yourself that you can do it than talking about it go to the Leica Galleries, Photo Exhibits, Bookstores, be Inspire than Talking - Remember the Leica is for Shooting Images, NOT CHICK BAIT.... I have been shooting since 1972, and still shooting as I use 35mm, Medium, and Large Format shooting, and Instant Photo Shooting, as I do not like Guys that BRAG.... And I am GLAD that young FILM Shooters are now shooting the pleasures of shooting film with 35mm. and Medium format as you might see these guys on RU-vid as they makes me happy that for them lugging photo gear just to create images. So sorry Mac this video Does Not Cut IT. But that is how I see you A Showman... And do not like it Tough.
